A92138:1106
The divine right of church-government and excommunication
The divine right of church-government and excommunication: or a peaceable dispute for the perfection of the holy scripture in point of ceremonies and church government; in which the removal of the Service-book is justified, the six books of Tho: Erastus against excommunication are briefly examined; with a vindication of that eminent divine Theod: Beza against the aspersions of Erastus, the arguments of Mr. William Pryn, Rich: Hooker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Jackson, Dr. John Forbes, and the doctors of Aberdeen; touching will-worship, ceremonies, imagery, idolatry, things indifferent, an ambulatory government; the due and just powers of the magistrate in matters of religion, and the arguments of Mr. Pryn, in so far as they side with Erastus, are modestly discussed. To which is added, a brief tractate of scandal ... / By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Published by authority.The divine right of church-government and excommunication: or a peacable dispute for the perfection of the holy scripture in point of ceremonies and church government; in which the removal of the Service-book is justifi'd, the six books of Tho: Erastus against excommunication are briefly examin'd; with a vindication of that eminent divine Theod: Beza against the aspersions of Erastus, the arguments of Mr. William Pryn, Rich: Hooker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Jackson, Dr. John Forbes, and the doctors of Aberdeen; touching will-worship, ceremonies, imagery, idolatry, things indifferent, an ambulatory government; the due and just powers of the magistrate in matters of religion, and the arguments of Mr. Pryn, in so far as they side with Erastus, are modestly discussed. To which is added, a brief tractate of scandal ... / By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Published by authority.
London: printed by John Field for Christopher Meredith, 1646
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. Both the Major & the Minor is false, the Major is from some particular places, negativè, he should argue from all the Old Testament, and he argueth from some places only, he leaveth out Levit. 10. and all the places where the Priests were only to judge the Leper, the unclean, which are spiritual judicatures, not civill. 2. The Assumption is false; Deut. 17, saith the contrary. 3. Though we could not show a place for the formal institution of an Ordinance, yet if we show the thing instituted, it is sufficient. 4. Erastus much doubteth himself, if Moses his government was altogether civill, especially before the Lord separated Aaron his sons and the Tribe of Levi to teach and govern the people in an Ecclesiastical way, for Erastus said before that Moses prescribed Laws to Aaron, sacrificed and did that which was proper to the Priests, though after that God forbade the Kings to usurp the Priests office, and punished Saul and Uzziah for so doing, (though I never read that Saul usurped the Priests office, you may take it upon the word of Erastus) and we all know that Moses was a Prophet of God, Deut. 18. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from amongst their brethren like unto thee, Deut. 34. 10. And there arose not a Prophet in Israel since, like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, Heb. 3. 5. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant: Now those that will say Moses his government of the Church was all civill and political, as a civill judge and King, and that he acted not in the government of the Church, as in writing and delivering Laws, and in doing many things, yea in ⟨p. 405⟩commanding the will of God, as a Prophet to Aaron, to his sons, and the whole tribe of Levi, to me speaks non-sense.
Ans. Both the Major & the Minor is false, the Major is from some particular places, negativè, he should argue from all the Old Testament, and he argueth from some places onely, he leaveth out